A town resident with decades of experience working with older adults has been chosen to lead the Greenwich Commission on Aging.

Lori Ann Contadino will step into the director's position on Jan. 22, replacing Sam Deibler, who recently announced his retirement after 10 years in the position.

Since 2008, Contadino has served as the staff gerontologist at GADC River House, a Greenwich adult day-care program, where she developed MasterMind, a brain training program for older adults. Contadino helped launch the Caregiver Information Center and the Caregiver's Circle, providing information and support for people caring for family members.

From 1999 to 2006, Contadino was the manager of Greenwich Hospital's Center for Healthy Aging, and prior to that she served as director of aging services, senior center director and assistant to the village administrator for the Village of Rye Brook, N.Y.

In these roles, Contadino has worked closely with the Greenwich Commission on Aging, so she is familiar with the issues and people involved.

"There's been a very close relationship through the years and it's such a privilege to be where I am now, to work directly with the commission board as the director," Contadino said.

There were 18 applicants for the position. The final four candidates were selected by the commission and the town's Human Resources department, and they were interviewed by a four-member panel.

Lori Jackson, chair of the Commission on Aging, said Contadino's varied experience working on senior issues for many years, and her familiarity with Greenwich, made her the best fit for the position.

"We're very excited to be getting her on board," Jackson said. "I think Greenwich is very fortunate."

As founding director of the Rye Brook Senior Citizens Center, Contadino successfully championed the planning, financing and construction of a new 10,000-square-foot senior center.

The Greenwich Commission on Aging, which manages the Greenwich Senior Center on Greenwich Avenue, has been advocating for a bigger space.

"It certainly was something that made her candidacy even more appealing, given her experience," Jackson said.

Contadino, who moved to Greenwich in 1997, said it likely wouldn't take too long for her to get a full understanding of the commission's goals and priorities before hitting the ground running on issues ranging from senior housing to transportation.

"I think that Greenwich is a wonderful community," Contadino said. "I think it's one of the best communities to grow old in, however, I can improve on the incredible foundation my predecessors have laid."